Education Program

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The UH Hilo Education Department provides preservice and inservice teachers with high quality, integrated, inquiry-and field-based professional development, serves as a resource to area educators who are meeting the challenges of teaching in a culturally rich, technologically advanced society, and conducts as well as guides action research to expand knowledge of teaching and learning. The Department offers a Teacher Education Program (TEP), which leads to initial licensure in the State of Hawai‘i, and a Master of Education Program (M.Ed.) for the professional development of inservice teachers.

The need for qualified teachers in Hawai‘i is constant. Shortage areas in the state include mathematics, science, vocational education, special education, and Hawaiian language, especially immersion programs. TEP graduates are successfully employed in teaching upon completion of the program. Hawai‘i is currently a party to Interstate Certification Compact (ICC) approval, allowing graduates reciprocal certification without transcript evaluation in most states. Graduates of the TEP may be eligible for teacher certification by transcript evaluation in the states that are not ICC members.

Education Program Web Site

Visit the Education Program web site at http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/depts/education/.

Mission

The UH Hilo Education Department is dedicated to the holistic development of transformational educators who are committed to equity, empowerment, and a critical understanding of our world. The Department envisions its future as the heart of a learning community of caring, ethical, and creative people as faculty seek to fulfill the following mission: to promote the professionalization of teaching by providing and engaging in educational experiences that are holistic, empathic, artistic, rigorous, and transformational.

Teacher Education Program (TEP)

The Teacher Education Program at UH Hilo is designed to prepare teacher candidates for a license issued by the State of Hawaiʻi, either at the elementary (grades K-6) or secondary (grades 7-12) level. Secondary licensure is approved by licensure content area. The UHH Department of Education secondary licensure content areas are: Agriculture, Art, Computer Education, English, Hawaiian, Japanese, Mathematics, Physical Education, Science, Social Studies (includes Hawaiian Studies), Spanish, and Speech.

Additional information for the Teacher Education Program may be found at the TEP Web site.

Goals for Student and Candidate Learning in the Teacher Education Program

TEP graduates will be recommended for state licensure, receive a Certificate in Teacher Education, and be able to:

  • Engage students in appropriate experiences that support their development as independent learners
  • Create and maintain a safe and positive learning environment
  • Provide learning opportunities that are inclusive and adapted to diverse learners
  • Foster effective communication in the learning environment
  • Demonstrate knowledge of content
  • Design and provide meaningful learning experiences
  • Use active student learning strategies
  • Use appropriate assessment strategies
  • Demonstrate professionalism
  • Foster parent and school community relationships

Education Program Faculty and Staff